Detroit Grand Prix V, FIA Formula 1 World Championship - Date: 21.6.1986
Back to the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix - Jean Alesi took the lead but suffered suspension failure 20 laps later. Olivier Panis, who started in 14th place, moved into the lead and stayed there until the end of the race, being pushed all the way by David Coulthard. It was Panis's only win, and the last for his Ligier team. Only three cars crossed the finish line, but seven were classified. Seven-time world champion Schumacher would eventually win the race five times, matching Graham Hill's record. In his appearance at the 2006 event, he attracted criticism when, while provisionally holding pole position and with the qualifying session drawing to a close, he stopped his car at the Rascasse hairpin, blocking the track and obliging competitors to slow down. Although Schumacher claimed it was the unintentional result of a genuine car failure, the FIA disagreed and he was sent to the back of the grid.
Olivier Panis celebrates winning the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix - Panis' victory remains the last in F1 for a French driver
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Olivier Panis on his way to victory - 1996
Olivier Panis on the podium having won the Monaco Grand Prix in 1996
In July 2010, Bernie Ecclestone announced that a 10-year deal had been reached with the race organisers, keeping the race on the calendar until at least 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FIA announced the 2020 Monaco Grand Prix's postponement, along with the two other races scheduled for May 2020, to help prevent the spread of the virus. However, later the same day the Automobile Club de Monaco confirmed that the Grand Prix was instead cancelled, making 2020 the first time the Grand Prix was not run since 1954.
The Circuit de Monaco consists of the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine, which includes the famous harbour. It is unique in having been held on the same circuit every time it has been run over such a long period – only the Italian Grand Prix, which has been held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza during every Formula One regulated year except 1980, has a similarly lengthy and close relationship with a single circuit.
The Condamine / The Port is one of the oldest districts of the principality after Monaco-Ville. It is known as the place of the starting and finish line of the famous Grand Prix Formula 1. Some buildings in the area with a view over the race are also popular among tourists during the event. La Condamine is located near the Port Hercule and is known for its authenticity and its traditionalist looks. It is considered the traditional shopping area of Monaco with its magnificent view over the Rampe Major and its sixteenth century gates. One characteristic of this neighbourhood: the Place d'Armes where is held each day a typical south of France market with breweries under the arcades. The area is also the favourite destination for boat lovers and festive atmosphere lovers. Port Hercule, located very near, indeed reflects the atmosphere perfectly. The Port is home to the Automobile Club and the Yacht Club of Monaco.
The Fountain, Place d`Armes, Monaco
The race circuit has many elevation changes, tight corners, and a narrow course that makes it one of the most demanding tracks in Formula One racing. As of 2018, two drivers have crashed and ended up in the harbour, the most famous being Alberto Ascari in 1955. Despite the fact that the course has had minor changes several times during its history, it is still considered the ultimate test of driving skills in Formula One, and if it were not already an existing Grand Prix, it would not be permitted to be added to the schedule for safety reasons. Even in 1929, 'La Vie Automobile' magazine offered the opinion that "Any respectable traffic system would have covered the track with <<Danger>> sign posts left, right and centre".
Monaco-Port-Hercule-view
Triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet was fond of saying that racing at Monaco was "like trying to cycle round your living room", but added that "a win here was worth two anywhere else". Notably, the course includes a tunnel. The contrast of daylight and gloom when entering/exiting the tunnel presents "challenges not faced elsewhere", as the drivers have to "adjust their vision as they emerge from the tunnel at the fastest point of the track and brake for the chicane in the daylight.
Discover the best of Monaco/Monte Carlo and the Grand Prix on this 3.5 hour e-bike tour. Get an insight to Monaco that most tourists miss. Discover Monaco’s intriguing story, get the best photo shots and discover this country in an unique way. From the Prince’s Palace, to cycling the start of the Grand Prix track through the famous Grand Prix tunnel all the way up to the “James Bond” Casino Square. You’ll have the company of an expert guide on this fun cycling tour of Monaco.
The third fastest-ever qualifying lap was set by Max Verstappen in qualifying (Q2) for the 2019 Grand Prix, at 1m 10.618. The second fastest-ever qualifying lap was set by Valtteri Bottas in qualifying (Q3) for the 2019 Grand Prix, at 1m 10.252. The fastest-ever qualifying lap was set by Lewis Hamilton in qualifying (Q3) for the 2019 Grand Prix, at 1m 10.166.
MAX VERSTAPPEN 33 RED BULL RACING MEXICO GRAND PRIX FORMULA 1
Max Emilian Verstappen born 30th September 1997) is a Belgian-Dutch racing driver who competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One with Red Bull Racing. At the 2015 Australia Grand Prix, when he was aged 17 years, 166 days, he became the youngest driver to compete in Formula One. He holds eight other "firsts" in Formula One racing. After spending the 2015 season with Scuderia Toro Rosso, he started his 2016 campaign with the Italian team before being promoted to parent team Red Bull Racing after four races as a replacement for Daniil Kvyat. At the age of 18, he won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix on his debut for Red Bull Racing, becoming the youngest-ever driver and the first Dutch Driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix. Over the course of the next three seasons he achieved another seven race victories, including the first for a Honda-powered car since 2006, and 2 pole positions. He finished the 2019 championship in third place, ahead of both Ferrari drivers. Verstappen is due to remain at Red Bull until the end of the 2023 season after signing a contract extension. He is the son of former Formula One driver
Max Verstappen became the youngest ever winner in F1 history after winning the Spanish GP following a first-lap collision between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen holds numerous "firsts" in Formula One racing. In 2015, he became the youngest driver to compete in Formula 1 at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix for Scuderia Toro Rosso. He is also the youngest driver to lead a lap during a Formula One Grand Prix, youngest driver to set the fastest lap during a Formula One Grand Prix, youngest driver to score points, youngest driver to secure a podium, youngest Formula One Grand Prix winner in history, youngest multiple Grand Prix winner, youngest to win the same Grand Prix multiple times and youngest to win the same Grand Prix in successive years. On 3 August 2019, he became the first ever Dutch F1 driver to take pole position, for the Hungarian Grand Prix, while also setting a new lap record on the Hungaroring and becoming the 100th polesitter in the sport's history.
Back row: Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado, Marcus Ericsson, Felipe Nasr, Will Stevens, Roberto Merhi
Middle Row: Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen (substituting for Fernando Alonso), Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jnr
Front Row: Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat, Felipe Massa, (Valtteri Botta not pictured due to injury)
At the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen was involved in a high-speed collision with Romain Grosjean, after clipping the back of the Lotus on the approach to Sainte Devote and flew nose-first into the barriers at high speed. Verstappen was given a five-place grid penalty for causing the accident, and was branded "dangerous" by Williams driver Felipe Massa - although Verstappen hit back at Massa by pointing out he had himself been involved in a similar incident with Sergio Perez at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel - Lewis Hamilton - Valtteri Bottas - On the podium after the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix.
Formula1 2019 Monaco Grand Prix HD Full Race F1
Formula1 2019 Monaco Grand Prix HD Full Race F1
Despite leading from lights to flag, it was a desperate struggle for Lewis Hamilton to clinch victory for Mercedes in the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix over Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Valtteri Bottas picked up third place, despite clashing with Max Verstappen in pit lane. The Red Bull picked up a five second penalty for an unsafe release that cost him a near-certain second place, despite a phenomenal effort from the Dutch driver. It was another troubled day for local boy Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver hit the barrier while trying to work his way back up from his poor grid position, and he ended up retiring from the race with floor damage on lap 18. Despite increasingly overcast conditions and a growing chance of rain, the glitz and glamour of the principality was undimmed as 20 drivers lined up in the grid for the start of Sunday's race. With overtaking notoriously all but impossible on the tight and twisting street circuit, arguably the most important battle had already been waged in yesterday's qualifying session; but the second most crucial moment lay ahead with the start of the race, when the lights went out and the cars plunged the short distance into Sainte-Devote for the first of 78 laps.
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Monaco Grand Prix - 2019
Polesitter Lewis Hamilton made no mistakes with his launch from the grid, leaving Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas to fend off Max Verstappen and keep the Red Bull in third place. That left Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel watching on from behind, with no room to make up positions into the first corner. However 2018 race winner Daniel Ricciardo had succeeded in jumping Kevin Magnussen for fifth, and Pierre Gasly has clawed back one of the positions he'd been penalised overnight and was into seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz and the Toro Rossos of Daniil Kvyat and Alexander Albon.
The start had been a clean one, although there was minor contact between Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen and Racing Point's Lance Stroll at the Lowes hairpin. McLaren's Lando Norris was falling backward after being passed at the same spot by the seriously out-of-position Charles Leclerc, the local hero proving true to his word about going for broke this afternoon after Ferrari's fumbled qualifying effort 24 hours previously. He soon dispatched Romain Grosjean with a nice move at Rascasse, but then spun when he tried to repeat the move on Nico Hulkenberg next time around. He ended up clipping the barrier, which punctured his right rear tyre and sent him limping back to pit lane. The flailing rubber had made a mess of the SF90's floor and bodywork which scattered debris across the track, leaving race control no option but to deploy the safety car on lap 10 while track workers got to work cleaning up. The 20-second advantage that the top four had previously enjoyed over Ricciardo evaporated as the leaders scrambled to pit lane for a 'free' stop. Hamilton and Bottas opted for medium rubber, while Verstappen and Vettel were both thinking longer distance and went for the hard compound.
However the pit stops had came at a cost for Mercedes. The team had been forced to double stack their cars, a delay that ended up costing Bottas track position over Verstappen. The pair then made contact on pit lane as they headed back out, and Mercedes was instantly concerned that the Finn had suffered a puncture from the collision. They brought back him in for replacements - opting for hard tyres this time - and sent him back out now in fourth place behind both Verstappen and Vettel. Racing resumed on lap 15 with Hamilton still in charge and Bottas instantly pressuring Vettel, but almost immediately there was a fracas in turn 16 when Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi tipped Williams' Robert Kubica into a spin that briefly blocked the entire with of the track. Nico Hulkenberg, George Russell and the luckless Leclerc were forced to come to a temporary full stop while those ahead sorted themselves out. Eventually, everyone did get going with the whole situation neatly handled under local waved yellows with no safety car reprise required. Giovinazzi was subsequently handed a ten second penalty for triggering the mêlée.
Lap 18 saw the end of Leclerc's race as the heavily wounded Ferrari was finally called in to the team garage to retire. Meanwhile Verstappen was having a better time of it, the investigation into his earlier pit lane unsafe release and clash with Bottas earning him a surprisingly mild five second penalty from the stewards. That kept him in the game, especially as his hard tyres gave him a shot of making it to the finish with no further stops while Hamilton was up against it trying the same on the mediums. While the race leader was trying to control the pace in order to extend the life of his tyres, Verstappen was soon turning up the heat and forcing Hamilton to go faster and faster.
Behind the pair, Vettel and Bottas had no trouble keeping up for ringside seats and a chance of their own to pounce. The rest of the field was also starting to claw back some time on the leaders, with the yet-to-pit Albon and Grosjean only around ten seconds behind Bottas followed by Gasly, Sainz, Kvyat and Norris, also yet to make his first call to pit road. By contrast, Ricciardo and Magnussen had dropped to 13th and 14th respectively after copying the leaders with an early stop under the safety car but with significantly less success. By lap 47, Hamilton was telling the Mercedes pit wall that he was "in a bad way". His task was made even harder by coming up upon the increasingly congested midfield battle. Eventually the leaders found their way past the backmarkers, Bottas coming off worse when he found himself stuck behind the stubborn Lance Stroll for an extended period. But the other frontrunners also had their issues, Verstappen being told to 'lift and coast' for overheating brakes, and Vettel also having to drop back due to overheating issues on the Ferrari.
At least the one headache they had been spared was the arrival of rain. Despite a few intermittent spots of precipitation, the race itself remained essentially dry leaving a tense run to the finish for the top four, with Hamilton growing increasingly desperate and disillusioned as his medium tyres approached end of life status. The team tried to keep his confidence up and encouraged him to carry on despite the problems, while Verstappen ended up throwing everything into his battle to pass the W10 before the laps ran out. The situation reached boiling point on lap 76 when Verstappen launched an attack out of the tunnel, locked up and made contact with Hamilton's left-rear at the Nouvelle Chicane which caused both men to miss the turn - an incident that the race stewards said that they would look into after the race. Both cars survived the encounter but Verstappen never had another chance to strike, leaving Hamilton to take the win.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Monaco Grand Prix 2019.
During the Grand Prix weekend, spectators crowd around the Monaco Circuit. There are a number of temporary grandstands built around the circuit, mostly around the harbour area. The rich and famous spectators often arrive on their boats and the yachts through the harbour. Balconies around Monaco become viewing areas for the race as well. Many hotels and residents cash in on the bird's eye views of the race. The Monaco Grand Prix is organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also runs the Monte Carlo Rally and the Junior Monaco Kart Cup.
53 years ago Mini celebrated a spectacular victory at the Rallye Monte Carlo.
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rallye Monte Carlo (officially Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo) is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally now takes place along the French Riviera in the principality of Monaco and southeast France. Previously, competitors would set off from all four corners of Europe and 'rally', in other words, meet, in Monaco to celebrate the end of a unique event. From its inception in 1911 by Prine Albert I it was an important means of demonstrating improvements and innovations to automobiles.
1911 - the first Monte-Carlo Rally
1935 Monte Carlo Rally
Français : Rallye Monte Carlo 1911, la Buire 50Hp de H. Goldstuck au départ de Paris.
1912 – Start of the Monte Carlo Rally
The 1912 Monte Carlo followed a similar format to the first, with a Russian Russo-Baltique car driven by Andrei Nagel taking first place. Due to controversy and the outrbreak of World War I, the Monte Carlo wasn't run again until 1924.
1935 – Woman Checking License Plate Before Rally Begins
Between the two World Wars, the Monte Carlo maintained its "race to Monaco from various points in Europe format." This 1935 photo shows a woman in London checking the license plate on her car before setting off.
1954 – Cars Racing in Monaco
A Peugeot, Jaguar, Panhard, Porsche and DKW race along the legendary Monaco Grand Prix circuit at the 1954 rally.
1959 – Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom Before The Race
Pat Moss, sister of Stirling Moss and later wife of Saab racer Erik Carlsson, prepares for the 1959 rally in England. She dominated the European Ladies' Rally Championship, back when that was a thing. Different times.
1964 – Patty Hopkirk Driving a Mini Cooper S
The Mini Cooper was surprisingly one of the most dominant cars in the Monte Carlo Rally. Here we see 1964 winner Patty Hopkirk behind the wheel of a Cooper S.
The Mini Cooper is also one of the most controversial cars in Monte Carlo history: in 1966, three Mini Coopers along with a Lotus Cortina were disqualified due to arcane headlight regulations. This gave Citroën an overall victory.
1965 – The Porsche 911's Debut
This picture from Porsche shows the 911s racing debut at the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. Though the factory-backed 911 only managed a fifty place finish, it helped establish the car as the serious racer we know it today.
Vic Elford won the 1968 Monte Carlo driving a 911T, giving Porsche its first victory there.
The 1966 event was the most controversial in the history of the Rally. The first four finishers, driving three Mini-Coopers, Timo Makinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk, and Roger Clark's 4th-placed Ford Cortina were all disqualified because they used non-dipping single filament quartz iodine bulbs in their headlamps, in place of the standard double filament dipping glass bulbs, which are fitted to the series production version of each models sold to the public. This elevated Pauli Tolvonen (Citroën ID) into first place overall. Rosemary Smith (Hillman Imp) was also disqualified from sixth place, after winning the Coupe des Dames, the ladies' class. In all, ten cars were disqualified. Teams threatened to boycott the event. The headline in Motor Sport read "The Monte Carlo Fiasco."
1971 – Renault Alpine A110
The 911 isn't the only rear-engined sports car to find success at the Monte Carlo Rally; the other is this, the Renault Alpine A110. Renault Alpine swept the podium in 1971, the year this photo was taken.
Pictured is Jean-Claude Andruet and Michel Vial, who took third place in 1971.
1984 – Walter Röhrl and an Audi Quattro
Two dominant forces in rally, Audi and driver Walter Röhrl, first united in 1984. The all-wheel-drive Audi revolutionised the sport when it debuted in 1981, forcing all competitors to adopt all wheel traction.
Audi swept the podium in 1984, with Röhrl taking first place.
1993 – Carlos Sainz Driving a Lancia Delta Integrale
1993 was more or less the end of the line for the aging Lancia Delta Integrale, which won the Monte Carlo a year earlier. This year's race was won in a Toyota Celica GT-Four.
2000 – Tommi Makinen Driving a Lancer Evolution VI
The views on the mountain stages of the Monte Carlo are as spectacular as the drops are treacherous. Here we see Finish legend Tommi Makinen on his way to victory in the 2000 race.
2002 – Sébastien Loeb Driving a Citroën Xsara
Seen here is Sébastien Loeb in 2002, just one year away from his first of six Monte Carlo victories.
This rally features one of the most famous special stages in the world. The stage is run from La Bollene-Vesuble to Sospel, or the other way around, over a steep and tight mountain road with many hairpin turns. On this 31km route it passes over the Col de Turini, a mountain pass road which normally has ice and/or snow on sections of it at that time of the year. Spectators also throw snow on the road—in 2005, Marcus Gronholm and Peter Solberg both ripped a wheel off their cars when they skidded on snow probably placed there by spectators, and crashed into a wall. Grönholm went on to finish fifth, but Solberg was forced to retire as the damage to his car was extensive. In the same event, Sebastian Loeb set one of the fastest times in the modern era, with 21 minutes 40 seconds.
• Hyundai Motorsport has made a spectacular start to the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), fighting for victory in an epic Rallye Monte-Carlo
• Thierry Neuville took the battle down to the wire, ending up just 2.2-seconds from eventual rally winner Sébastien Ogier after a gripping Power Stage
• Sébastien Loeb, in his first rally for Hyundai Motorsport, claimed a fighting fourth having been in podium contention all weekend.
Sébastien Loeb relaxes ahead of the X Games
© FLAVIEN DUHAMEL/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Sébastien Loeb born 26th February 1974) is a French professional rally, racing, and rallycross driver. He competed for the Citroen World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and is the most successful driver in WRC history, having won the world championship a record nine times in a row. He holds several other WRC records, including most event wins, most podium finishes and most stage wins. Loeb announced his retirement from World Rallying at the end of the 2012 season. Participating in selected events in the 2013 WRC season, he raced a full season in the FIA GT Series driving a McLaren MP4-12C before moving on with Citroen to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2014. In the 2018 season he is one of the official drivers of the Team Peugeot Total.
Hyundai-Sebastian Loeb-Monte Carlo-2020.
Originally a gymnast, Loeb switched to rallying in 1995 and won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2001. Signed by the Citroën factory team for the 2002 season, he and co-driver Daniel Elena took their maiden WRC win that same year at the Rallye Deutschland. After finishing runner-up to Petter Solberg by one point in 2003, Loeb took his first drivers title in 2004. Continuing with Citroën, he went on to take a record ninth consecutive world title in 2012. Loeb is a tarmac expert, having won all but three of the WRC rallies on that surface in which he has participated between 2005 and 2013.
Sébastien Loeb-won the first junior title in 2001.
Besides his success in rallying, Loeb is a three-time winner at the Race of Champions, after taking home the Henri Tolvonen Memorial Trophy and the title "Champion of Champions" in 2003, 2005 and 2008. In 2004, he won the Nations' Cup for France with Jean Alesi. In 2006, he finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Loeb was named the French Sportsman of the Year in 2007 and 2009, and made knight of the Legion of Honour (Légion d'honneur) in 2009. In 2012, he won the rallycross final in his first appearance at X Games XVIII. In 2018, Loeb won the Spanish round of that year's World Rally Championship, in a rare entry six years after his retirement as a full-time rally driver.
The Junior Monaco Kart Cup is a Kart Racing event ruled by the CIK-FIA and organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco, it takes place each year in Monaco. The event see young drivers compete with KF3 karts, a class for top drivers aged 12 to 15. The course circuit follows the lower part of the famous Formula One Track, in a large section of the port, from Tabac corner, round the swimming pool, and on to the Rascasse before entering the F1 track's pit lane. A ramp and a hairpin connect this part of the track back to the port section.
Rotax Grand Final
Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton… What is common in these people? The beginning of their career. Most racing drivers know that karting is not only an exciting sport in its own right but is also the ultimate springboard for any Motorsport star of the future to learn their craft. Some of the most famous and successful Formula One drivers in the world started out in karting.
1. Ayrton Senna – Karting is the purest driving experience
Ayrton Senna, considered by many experts to be the best racing driver ever, described karting as the “purest driving experience” and always took it very seriously. The F1 three-times world champion, from Brazil, still raced karts regularly up until his death in 1994. Senna said he enjoyed some of his best racing in go-karts.
Ayrton Senna - South American kart championship-1977-
Photo by: XPB Images
2. Michael Schumacher – German Junior Kart Champion
Seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher started his racing career in karting. His father built him his first kart at the age of four. In 1983, aged 14, Schumacher obtained his German license, winning the 1984 and 1985 German Junior Kart Championship. He made his debut in the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix of 1991.
Michael Schumacher vintage karting moment
3. Jan Magnussen – Junior World Champion
Danish racing driver Jan Magnussen started out kart racing in the 1980s, winning the 1989 Junior World Championship and the 1990 Senior World Championship. He drove in the F1 Grand Prix for McLaren in 1995. He took part in Indy Car racing in 1996 and then returned to F1 for Stewart in 1997 and ’98.
4. Mark Webber – Growing up in different tracks
Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber started out karting as a boy, growing up competing in different tournaments and tracks around the country. He credits karting with introducing him to the professional side of motorsport, generating sponsorship deals to maintain his kart and compete. Like many F1 drivers, he still enjoys racing karts today.
An early photo of Mark Webber during his Karting days in Queanbeyan.
5. Kimi Raikkonen – Ice Man on the track
As a motorsport-mad 11-year-old, Kimi Raikkonen took up karting in his home-town of Espoo in Finland. In 2000, ten years later, he made the switch to cars in the UK Formula Renault series, taking the championship. He joined the Swiss F1 team, Sauber, for the 2001 season, marking the start of a long Formula One career.
6. Sebastian Vettel – Early start
Sebestian Vettel started karting at the very young age of three, competing by the age of eight in 1995. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team at age 11 in 1998, winning the Junior Monaco Kart Cup in 2001. In 2006, he became BMW Sauber’s third driver at the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix. He joined the Ferrari team for the 2015 season.
7. Lewis Hamilton – The best birthday gift
Four times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton had his first go kart at the age of six, beginning competitive karting aged eight, in 1993, at the Rye House Kart Circuit. He entered Formula One racing in 2007, missing out on the world championship by only one point in his debut season.
Lewis Hamilton aged 8
8. Daniil Kvyat – Italian Kart Champion
Born in Russia in 1994, Daniil Kvyat sat in his first go kart at age eight. He began racing karts competitively, with his family relocating to Rome so he could compete in the Italian kart championships. The Italian-based Toro Rosso F1 team signed him for a race drive in 2014. He finished ninth at the Australian Grand Prix, making him the youngest points scorer in Formula One history.
Daniil Kvyat, class of ’94, among the “famous” drivers, is one of those most closely linked to karting. It’s no surprise, therefore, to find him at the South Garda in Lonato for an intense day of testing behind the wheel of a Formula K kart. On the other hand, the Russian driver, like so many others, started his career in karting, gaining not a few satisfactions: the third step of the podium at the European Championship KF3 in 2009 and, in the same year, the second place at the WSK International Series.
Then Formula Renault, GP3 and Euro F3, until the debut in F1: Toro Rosso, first, and Red Bull, then. Finally, in 2018, the transition to the red of Maranello in the role of test driver.
9. Max Verstappen – Young boy on the track
Max Verstappen started karting at age four. In 2007, he won the Dutch Minimax, going on to win many more karting championships before starting car racing in 2013. In 2014, he finished third in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship for Van Amersfoort Racing. In 2015, he made his Grand Prix début at the Australian Grand Prix at the age of 17 years, 166 days.
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen, and his teammate Pierre Gasly had an exiting day on an ice-track in The Netherlands as both Formula 1-drivers drove in two Kart Republic karts with spikes on ice to make an awesome promotion video!
"This was my first time karting on ice and I had a lot of fun!", said ‘Mad’ Max after his experience in a kart on ice! "It's been two years since I sat in a proper kart, it was really nice. I think at one point we were going over 100 km/h in sixth gear, so it was great! Ice racing in a kart was a new experience. And although I have had many special times in a kart, this was definitely one of the best days! I had a lot of fun today with Pierre and it was a great way to start the season together.”
Bulls On Ice | Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly Go Karting On Ice
Bulls On Ice | Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly Go Karting On Ice
10. Jules Bianchi – Shocked the world
The late Jules Bianchi, whose tragic death at the age of 25 in 2015 shocked the world, first drove a kart at age three, racing by the age of five. Moving to cars in 2007, he won the French Formula Renault 2.0 series. He was named as Ferrari’s Formula One test and reserve driver for the 2011 season. In 2013, he was taken on by Marussia and was consistently impressive.
It probably comes as little or no surprise that many of today’s top F1 drivers began their racing careers in karts. Recent world champions Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso all cut their racing teeth in competitive karting, progressing through the ranks on to the pinnacle of world motorsport.